Avengers: Infinite Wars

by free man writer

The Clone Wars are in full swing with the galaxy divided. The Jedi lead the clone army against the infinite droid army of the Separatists. Yet a wild card enters the fray. The Avengers. From there, newer, more sinister and deadlier threats emerge and The Galaxy, no, the universe, shall never be the same again. Co-written by Jebest4781 and BulletStormX. Now in Season 4.

58. A lot of Red or is Scarlet better?

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Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 58: A lot Red… or is Scarlet better?

What was that?

That overwhelming shockwave in the Force?

It was unlike anything she had ever felt.

She was still new to all this but even as a beginner, she felt it.

All of her older sisters and mentors did as did the other initiates.

There were whispers and murmurs going on all around her as she tried making sense of it all.

Today was just like any other for the young Zabrak girl.

She was awoken by one of the older women of her tribe and taken to the usual training grounds where she had been studying the special sorcery and magics of her people.

This young Zabrak girl was a native of Dathomir and was a member of the fabled Nightsisters.

And right now, said famous individuals were in heated discussion in the center of the tent that was serving as their instructional area.

The rest of the younger initiates were off to the side whilst the young Zabrak girl known as Merrin was slowly backing away, making herself discreet.

"Mother…"

"I felt it too, my child."

Merrin looked back to the other Nightsisters all speaking with one another before she ducked underneath her special hidey hole and ran out to find whatever caused this commotion.

"Go. We must find this source before the other cove- where's Merrin?"

All activity stopped as the older Nightsisters immediately saw that one of their younger siblings was missing.

"Merrin?" One cried out in panic. "Merrin?!"

"Find her now!" Mother Talzin shouted. "We do not know what it was that arrived on our homeworld and we will not be taking any chances in risking our sisters."

Whatever they felt was strong. It was powerful. It came literally out of nowhere. And it was on this planet.

The leader of the coven feared what may happen if their enemies came across it. And she already imagined the consequences.

In some remote location of Dathomir, a person stirred from their abrupt slumber.

With a groggy groan, Wanda slowly rose from the earth hissed. She experienced several aches throughout her body. Some were obviously placed on her body with how sore they were. Her joints, back and… who was she kidding, everything was hurting right about now.

And that included the throbbing headache she had right now.

"What happened?" She asked aloud though received no response.

She opened her eyes only to recoil for a moment until the spots and blurriness cleared out.

Upon gaining visual clarity of her surroundings, the newcomer to Dathomir had to blink a number of times to allow her eyes to digest it all.

First thing to note… it was heavily red.

Like someone put up a literal red filter on practically everything.

When looking at the sky, she more or less understood why as she saw a literal red sun through the broken clouded sky.

Secondly, there were a lot of dead looking trees for the most part with a serious foreboding aura coming off them. Didn't help with this eerie red fog rolling off the natural environment.

Scratch that, Wanda felt an uneasy feeling coming from everywhere.

Wherever here was.

Rubbing her head, Maximoff slowly rose up to her feet but stumbled slightly.

She got hit with a case of vertigo that was throwing her off.

Luckily there was a nearby tree trunk she could use as a seat and thus sat down while nursing her head.

Wanda recalled what led up to… wherever she wound up at.

A mission going to a HYDRA base. Them coming across something ripped out of Stargate. Some schmuck activated it, perhaps a defense mechanism for intruders. And everyone was pulled right in.

"Where… Where is everyone?"

Pulling out her communicator, she started calling out to everyone.

"Cap? Cap, do you read me?" No response.

"Nat? Sam? Scott?" She listed them all off. "Stark? Vision? Hope? Rhodey?"

Still no responses from any of them.

She bit her lip as she tried for one last person.

"Pietro?"

Static was the answer she received.

Dread filled her very being as her breathing started to become a tad rapid.

She tried calming herself. She can't lose herself. It wasn't like it was the end of the world.

Oh who was she kidding. It practically was.

She can't reach anyone at all. She was god knows where. Lastly her panic attack was quickly ganging up on her.

Needing a means to vent, she built up a portion of the power within her before letting it all out.

A shockwave of scarlet energy blasted out from her, toppled several trees and cleared out the fog in its entirety.

"Better." Said the Sokovian. "Somewhat better."

Least she could see more clearly now.

It won't do her any good to just sit and stand around doing nothing. She needed to find someone, anyone and assess the situation at hand.

Trekking through the toppled forest for several minutes, she eventually came across a natural clearing where she saw the landscape at large.

It was primarily a rocky mountainscape with a few rolling hills far down below. She spotted the hint of a murky swamp at a far distance, or what she perhaps believed. At another was another forest and seemed a bit more pleasant to look at as there seemed to be life over there instead of the decrepit dead ones nearby.

*SNAP*

Wanda spun about in an instant with her hands raised and her powers clear and present to be seen.

Red energy swirled around and in between her fingers with her eyes aglow with the same scarlet energy.

Her eyes looked around to find the source and was ready for what may come at her. Wanda wasn't going to let her guard down, given what hectic mess she got into.

The Sokovian expected a number of things. Dangerous wildlife. Scary natives.

This reminded her of a number of sci-fi and fantasy shows and films she watched in the past. Even alongside her brother when taking a break from her sitcoms and soap operas.

What she did not expect was the head of a small child peeking out from behind a thick tree and gazing upon her with curiosity and nervousness.

As soon as she saw the eyes, the child quickly retreated behind the tree with a small "eep".

Canceling her powers with a slightly shameful look, Wanda kept her hands up and tried to talk to the local.

"Hey now." She called out to the child behind the tree. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to startle you like that. I just heard something and thought"

The child didn't say anything as the Sokovian slowly walked to her position. She rounded the tree trunk and saw the child who was a young girl looking up at her with fright though her curiosity appeared to be overriding it.

Taking a closer look, she was human in terms of appearance. But that was where similarities ended.

Her skin was grey skinned with faint grey birthmarks on her face and had white hair; perhaps platinum. And… were those horns beneath her hair?

Hard to somewhat tell given the red sun overhead. They seemed to blend in so well.

"Who… Who are you?" The girl asked suddenly, surprising the Avenger to a degree.

She sounded a lot younger than she looked.

"I'm Wanda. Wanda Maximoff." The Sokovian said with a kind smile. "And you are?"

The little girl looked hesitant but eventually…

"M-Merrin."

"Merrin?" Wanda repeated, kneeling down to be at eye level with the young girl. "That's a pretty name you have there."

The young girl blinked upon hearing that and found herself blushing bashfully.

"R-really?"

Wanda nodded. "It fits with a pretty girl like yourself."

The girl was somewhat eager now, yet still clung to the decrepit tree.

"What are you doing out here?" Wanda asked softly. "Are you lost, Merrin?"

The young girl perked up on hearing that and shook her head. "Nope. I know my way around."

"Do you now?" Merrin moved her head up and down again. "Then could you perhaps show me around? I'm rather lost… and confused."

"How?"

Wanda bobbed her head about from side to side with a sheepish look.

"Let's just say I did not come here intentionally." The red-garbed Avenger stated. "I don't even know how I got here. All I do know is that it wasn't by choice. So I'm in a bit of a bind."

Merrin hummed a little before adopting a realized expression.

"I can take you to my family." She said, brightening up now. "They could help you."

Wanda was a bit surprised to hear that. "Really?"

"Really, really."

Nodding, she let Merrin lead her.

Wanda stayed close to the pre-teen girl as she didn't want to lose track of her as the fog started to become present once again.

Her eyes occasionally scanned the surroundings so she and Merrin wouldn't come across any dangers.

As much as she'd put her trust in the little girl, the Sokovian didn't want to risk the chance.

As they continued to trek through the red forest, Wanda occasionally grimaced as an unnatural feeling throughout her body.

At first she thought it was her powers acting all wonky after her sudden arrival to this place.

Yet when she actually took a moment to concentrate on why her power was acting like this, she was surprised that it was a reaction to this place as a whole.

Her power was responding to the unusual air and energy that appeared to permeate everything around her.

What was it?

She had never felt anything like this other than her proximity to Pietro and Vision.

And even then, there was a familiarity to it.

This energy, this aura and air… it was different to say the least.

"I gotta say this now, but this place feels weird." Wanda blurted out.

"Sometimes it does, Wanda. But it's home."

Wanda wouldn't argue on that.

Far back as she could remember, the warzone of her childhood was home. It was not a great environment to grow up in, but what choice did she, her brother and parents have.

Luckily they were planning on moving out of that place and into a proper one. Unfortunately for her, things didn't go as expected… in the worst possible way.

Eventually voices were heard in the air, making Wanda know they were coming closer to some form of civilization.

Coming around a hill, Wanda and Merrin eventually came to some sort of structure with temple-like designs. Over the elongated entrance was some carved face. There were statues being support beams.

There were also these fleshy looking sacks hanging off a number of trees. Wanda was curious in wanting to inspect them but chose not to.

Looking at the locals, they were women who wore quite a lot of red which rivaled herself. They all shared similar traits as Merrin with the grey skin and white/grey hair. Though she did spot a few other colors like purple and brown. It was a tad hard to depict it through the present environment.

Though one question seemed to pop up: where were the men?

Drawing ever closer, the women finally took notice of them and approached.

Instead of a proper greeting, things diverged.

In seconds, Wanda was surrounded by the women as they aimed curved swords and these weird bows with what looked like laser strings attached acting as the bowstring.

A woman snuck up and grabbed Merrin, who held her in a protective manner despite the young girl being. This made Wanda quickly know this was Merrin's mother.

The Avenger looked around and saw looks of suspicion and mistrust by all present save for a clearly confused and now concerned Merrin.

Wanda then heard footsteps and the group of women surrounding her parted slightly to allow another lady to join them only this one was far more distinct in appearance.

While a majority of the women were garbed in red with red vests and leggings, this female in front of her had a pointed hood with her mouth and nose covered.

Only her eyes were visible and it shared many sentiments that were held by the other women here.

"We don't like strangers." Spoke the hooded woman.

"Same here. But I assure you all I'm not here for a fight." Said Wanda in a calm manner. "But I will if you test me."

The hooded woman's eyes narrowed at the scarlet garbed Avenger.

"We do not take kindly to threats, young lady."

Rather than verbally answering, Wanda raised both hands as a sign of showing she meant no harm but also to gesture to the women surrounding her armed with lethal weapons.

"Who are you?" One of the women asked.

"What are you doing here?" Said another.

She cleared her throat aloud as a means of silencing the women around her. "My name is Wanda Maximoff and I have no idea how I got here. All I want is answers."

A number of them shared a look.

"She needs our help." Merrin suddenly spoke up, making all turn to her.

Her mother lightly shushed her but her daughter appeared undeterred.

"Wanda didn't come here intentionally." Merrin argued. "She doesn't even… wait, do you know where you are?"

Maximoff shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "Couldn't tell ya even if I could."

"See?" The young child persisted. "We can't turn away someone who needs help."

The girl's mother clearly looked a bit conflicted. "Merrin-"

"She was nice to me." The daughter stated. "She would have attacked me if we first met."

A few moments passed as some of these women spoke one after another.

"You will follow us, Wanda."

"You will speak to Mother Talzin."

"She will decide your fate."

The way they spoke made it seem like there wasn't really much Maximoff would be able to do in terms of arguing back.

That and the fact that they still surrounded her with weapons so…

She'd rather not strike up a fight right about now.

"Yippee." Wanda muttered out sarcastically.

The women soon began all walking toward the temple-like structure. When she got closer to it, Wanda soon realized it was actually a mountain.

There was an entrance to it with a set of statues on either side of the opening.

Upon going inside, she found herself in a large cavern with running water, teal pools and hanging green and yellow lanterns.

"Huh... actual color aside from red." Commented Wanda. "Don't get me wrong. I like a lot of things red, but it seemed too much outside."

Normally she wouldn't be this quippy or snarky in terms of comments.

But for the past few months, she spent her time around a lot of quip masters like Sam, Stark, Barton, Pietro and even Rhodey on occasion.

Steve and Nat really had wry and sarcastic comments here and there but nothing too serious.

And Vision was… well, he was Vision.

But after Hope and especially Scott's induction into the team, it seemed the amount of joking and snarky comments tripled overnight.

So naturally, some of that would rub off on her whether she liked it or not.

After several minutes walking through the mountain village, the escort all but shoved the Sokovian into a large central building as she was brought into a meeting room.

Eventually, Wanda was seated at a table with orange lights hanging around and from an orb at the piece of furniture's center. Before her in an adjacent manner was the woman known as Mother Talzin or at least whom she assumed.

She appeared to give off a regal and sage-like air with an underlying feeling of what could only be described as a hint of sinister intent. But for now it was of concern and curiosity.

She was taller than the other women she saw earlier. She was no doubt bald underneath the shall-like head wrap. Her face markings were entirely black instead of the faint or solid grey from the others. She wore a silver headpiece attached to the shall. And her clothing was rather… pointy and wavy.

How was it waving about like that?

"Would you care for a drink?" Talzin's voice broke through the silence.

Wanda nodded as one of the women stationed in the room poured her a cup.

Blowing on whatever the drink was, she took an experimental sip of what must have been some kind of tea and found it satisfying. "Thank you."

Talzin gazed upon the Avenger in an analytical manner, her eyes intense and filled with intrigue.

"I am Mother Talzin, leader of this clan of Nightsisters." Spoke the regal Dathomirian.

"Wanda Maximoff." She said in turn. "Part of the Avengers."

"Avengers?"

"My team. My friends." Wanda answered. "We're a team who protect the world… though…"

"Perhaps your world." Talzin said. "I'm fairly certain none of my sisters or any of the other clans have ever heard of such a group."

"I can already guess that."

The coven leader hummed as she sipped some tea.

"You caused quite the disturbance to my people, Ms. Maximoff."

"Not intentionally… Mother Talzin." Said the Sokovian, once quenching her dry throat. "Don't mean to be rude, but do I refer to you with your full title or just Talzin."

This earned a sharp look from the other women in the room. She could feel the glares being sent in her direction until Talzin waved them down.

"My full title and name is for formality and respect. I haven't been simply referred to by my given name for a very long time." The Nightsister clan leader said in a blunt manner. "Since you are new here and depending on how this meeting goes, I shall tell you to refer to me as such for the duration of your time here."

"Noted."

The two sat there in a moment of silence, eyes locked upon each other until the Avenger spoke first.

"Where am I exactly?"

"Dathomir."

"Yes, but where is that exactly?" Wanda stressed out. "Where on Earth am I?"

"Earth?" Talzin said in slight confusion. "Why do you refer to the ground?

"I'm… talking about… the planet." Wanda said slowly.

"This planet's name is Dathomir." Talzin stated. "If your planet is called Earth, I never heard of such a place."

"My planet." Wanda whispered, unsure as to what the Nightsister was referring to.

Talzin gazed upon her in slight bewilderment. "Is this your first time off your homeworld? Strange, I would have figured you would at least be aware of the rest of the galaxy. Did you come from an isolated planet?"

Wanda began breathing heavily and was looking around when she looked up at an opening in the mountainous ceiling above that showed the sky.

And in said sky was not one or two but four moons rising into the night sky.

The Avenger gasped when the reality of the situation finally hit her.

This wasn't some kind of illusion or hallucination.

This wasn't Earth!

She was on another planet!

That HYDRA base and its weird gate structure sent her and the Avengers into space!

"Oh my God." Wanda's hands were on either side of her head.

As Talzin was going to speak to her, she halted when she saw the scarlet energy starting to arise from this otherworldly visitor.

The Witch's eyes widened considerably, jaw falling slightly.

Her reaction was shared by the other Nightsisters present as they gazed upon the scarlet red energy surrounding the young woman.

'This… power…' She thought in realization. 'The one we felt.'

"Ms. Maximoff." Talzin spoke aloud and sharply, cutting through the panic stricken girl who looked up to see the woman rising up from her seat and walking over to her.

"Breath and control yourself." The elder of the two said in a calming fashion. "It would not be best that you allow fear and panic to override your senses and consciousness."

The words hit the Sokovian as she went through the breathing techniques to help quell her inner turmoil. After some moments, the energies died down and receded.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Define better." Wanda deadpanned, still panting slightly.

"Enough to know that there is much to discuss, yes?"

"Most definitely."

"Then let us begin from the start for both our sakes." Talzin said, now seating herself to the chair to Wanda's immediate right. "I feel that we may be here for some time."

Hours passed as the two conversed. In that time, Wanda was able to get much from the exchange of information and vice versa.

To formally begin with, Wanda was presently on the planet known as Dathomir in the Quelii sector.

This was a planet with a long and storied history etched into the many mountains and holdings of the Nightsister clans on this world.

Apparently they were practitioners of a form of magic unique to their kind and specialized in an aspect of something they call the Dark Side of the Force.

If Wanda were being honest with herself, hearing dark side of whatever this "Force" was supposed to be didn't exactly fill her a peace of mind.

Interesting to listen to, don't get her wrong.

But ominous all the same.

Talzin brushed over some other topics such as mentions of a galactic republic and an apparent conflict they are currently having with a group called the Separatist.

Growing up in a ravaged country like Sokovia, it wasn't hard for Wanda to put two and two together and surmise that there was an apparent war going on.

The thought alone was mind boggling for the young woman.

A few months ago, she had received powers beyond her wildest dreams, fought alongside and against a killer robot and Earth's Mightiest Heroes, joined the Avengers and now it appears she had been teleported to another planet, possibly even another galaxy that was at war.

That whole thought process alone would have been enough to overload her senses and knock her out clean.

God, Barton was right.

This life really was a circus.

Talzin went on to speak of the many covens and clans of the Nightsisters and other female Force users that inhabited Dathomir such as her own sect to the ones who tamed Rancors (Whatever they were) to the Singing Mountain clan.

Also the Nightsisters were witches. Not as a slur, but legitimate ones.

How they performed their powers -their magics- was somewhat similar to how she uses her own. Instead of her scarlet red, they had neon or bright sickly green in terms of color.

The Witches of Dathomir as they were called.

Each clan specialized in a type of magic that they had developed on their own in the last few centuries. Perhaps millennia.

A planet dominated by women.

Wanda briefly recalled old legends of a Greek story involving an island full of women.

She figures this would be a good analogy.

It's just… you know, a planet.

But there was one thing that came to mind that had been on Wanda's mind for a bit now.

It had to do with the opposite gender.

When asking about where the men were at, it led to an interesting discussion.

Turns out men are considered second or perhaps third class citizens in the plainest sense of the word.

How they are treated varies from each of the Nightsister covens across the planet.

Depending on their use and utility, some had better lifestyles than others.

The one she presently resided at was better, apparently, in terms of their relationship with the other gender.

Though in all honesty, everything Wanda was being told was taken with a grain of salt.

Then it came time for Maximoff to speak about herself.

Now she figured that she would have to at least tell something of herself to the leader of this Dathomirian clan given the unrestrained curiosity Talzin held both in her eyes and demeanor as she spoke to her.

She figured after her little breakdown that came with a display of her powers, Talzin would undoubtedly want to know about her.

But… her gut feeling told her to speak with the Nightmother candidly.

To reveal enough but withhold information that may reap negative consequences.

It also helped that her telepathic abilities picked up on the intent of the woman before her.

She was surprised at her difficulty in reading it but at the very least, the intent was felt.

In the small lessons that she has had with Cap, Nat and Clint in her time as an Avenger, they always spoke of how your gut knew you best. How it was able to discern a situation better than most.

When in doubt, go with your gut.

So for now, Wanda came to the conclusion that Talzin would need to earn her trust before she revealed all her cards.

For the time being, only the basics would hopefully suffice.

It apparently did, or at least Wanda believed so as the coven leader didn't demand any more than needed.

A basic overview of who she was and what had happened to her up to this point.

Her life in Sokovia with her brother, gaining powers, joining the Avengers and such.

Nothing overly complicated but the growing interest was evident in Talzin.

Though it appeared that she had picked up on Wanda's reluctance to divulge anything further and surprised her by opting not to pry any further.

Once that was all said and done, Talzin ordered a room to be prepared for Wanda.

She was to stay as their guest for the time being and she wished for her to be comfortable.

Wanda didn't exactly rest all that well for the remainder of the night as her thoughts and worries plagued her.

She tried quelling them by gazing at the starlit sky with the few moons currently present.

All that was missing was a hot tasty beverage.

The next few days swiftly came and went as Wanda had to start adjusting to her new environment.

It was honestly just waking up, being taken to Talzin and her just spending the overall day with her.

The days were composed of Talzin simply explaining the workings of her clan, its structure, its practices, the members and the responsibilities that come with it.

A number of times they simply stood on the sidelines and watched as the Nightsisters performed their tasks from either training to chores of sorts.

Rinse and repeat.

The only brief instances of the sudden monotony of her situation were at times broken by the young Nightsister she had first met since coming to Dathomir. She was determined to spend time and get to know Wanda which was endearing to say the least.

She did go outside of the coven's home on occasion, with some people watching over her in case she tried doing anything funny.

In a way, it was like she was at a prison with her given limitations.

Fortunately for her today, one of her watchers was a sweet little girl.

"Wanda, Wanda, Wanda." Came the excited voice of Merrin.

The Avenger turned around, her lips upturning at the sight of the first Nightsister she had met bounding up to her.

"Yes, Merrin, what is it?" She greeted the young girl kindly.

"I'm coming with you today." Merrin happily declared and soon Wanda found herself with a more genuine smile.

"That sounds wonderful." Maximoff said with an earnest tint in her tone. "You will certainly have a sense of fresh air over the grouchy ones."

This got a giggle from the Dathomirian child.

"They're not all bad."

Wanda chuckled lightly and couldn't help herself when she leaned down slightly and booped the young girl's nose.

"Yes, but compared to you, most everyone is grouchy."

Merrin giggled once more and ran up to grab Wanda's hand and began pulling on it.

"Come on, come on, I wanna show you-"

"Merrin." A stern voice interrupted the girl's excited chatter.

Both of them turned around to see-

"Mom." Merrin said brightly.

The mother of Merrin stood at the entryway into the village of the Nightsisters and gave her daughter a sweet smile.

"Merrin, my dear, would you be so kind as to give me a moment with Wanda here."

"Huh?" Merrin tilted her head to the side in clear confusion.

"It won't be for long, sweetheart, just a moment of her time is all." Her mother assured her.

Merrin puffed her cheeks out slightly. "Don't keep her for too long then mom, I've been wanting to spend time with Wanda all day."

"I promise you you'll be able to shortly." The mother promised, patting her daughter on the head before lightly gesturing for her to wait off to the side out of earshot.

Once Merrin walked ahead of the two…

"Tina." Wanda greeted politely enough. "What can I do for you?"

"I believe it should be very obvious, Maximoff." Tina spoke, tone now much colder. "It appears that somehow the task of watching over you has fallen upon my daughter. Something I believe Mother Talzin planned on and one I am very much against."

"If you think I'm going to take advantage or hurt her, then you're worried for nothing." Wanda said in a slightly fierce manner. "What kind of Avenger would I be to harm children?"

"Avenger? Is that supposed to mean something?" Tina said in an unimpressed manner.

"It's the team I'm a part of." Wanda declared with a clear sense of pride. "That team are the protectors of the world I come from. We safeguard the world from any and all threats and keep the people safe. I would be caught dead before ever thinking of harming a child."

Tina frowned before looking at her daughter who was waiting patiently ahead with a bright smile on her face.

She was clearly excited at the prospect of being Wanda's "chaperone". Tina still didn't know why Mother Talzin allowed for this nor why her daughter was so obsessed with spending time with Wanda.

Still, she was not one to disobey a degree from her clan leader.

And it was obvious to see just how excited Merrin was in doing this so she'd rather not take such excitement away from her sweet child.

"I shall give you the benefit of doubt, Maximoff." Merrin's mother tersely stated. "My daughter appears to have grown fond of you in your short time here so for now, I shall give you a level of trust. Should you do anything that betrays the trust of my daughter or my sisters then I hope you will be prepared for what's to come."

Wanda stood proud and undeterred. "I'm already aware, Tina. And I am ready to face the consequences if any harm comes to your daughter. I swear to you on my life."

That appeared to have the desired effect as Tina backed down with a satisfied look in her eyes. "Good. I leave her in your care then."

"No harm will befall her." Wanda promised, walking away from her to rejoin with a gleeful Merrin who grabbed her hand and began to pull her away.

"Come on." Tina heard her daughter say giddily.

"Slow down, Merrin." Was Wanda's response, laughing at the child's energy.

Watching the two walk away from the village, Tina let out a sigh before turning back to go back and go about her tasks for the day.

She prayed for her daughter's safety and that the trust she's placing in the newcomer is not unwarranted.

All the while, Merrin was happily walking alongside Wanda whilst holding her hand, swinging it back and forth.

It was an amusing sight for the Sokovian to say the least.

Out of all the Nightsisters she had met thus far, Merrin has been the only one openly positive towards her.

A majority of them have been guarded, neutral or negative.

Nothing antagonistic or hostile though it was clear to discern the mistrust directed at her.

The only other person that treated her courteously was Mother Talzin and it was easy for Wanda to figure out why.

In the time since her arrival here, Talzin had spoken of the magic her clan possesses and the training and aptitude to this thing called "The Force" necessary to use it.

But apparently, Wanda didn't have it or at least, not in the way that Talzin understood it.

The Nightsister Clan leader spoke of how Wanda was a strange void in the Force but at the same time a beacon in it.

She was well aware of the power that she possessed and wanted to know more about it.

Wanda was hesitant of course to show Talzin her powers but after seeing what she was capable of, a new desire began to enter her mind.

These witches utilized power that was similar to her own to a degree.

Ever since she had first gotten these abilities, Wanda didn't really or fully know how to use or even understand her abilities.

She always felt a bit strange and self-conscious about it since it was her own power yet she knew next to nothing about it.

Only that she can control a form of red energy, can move things with her mind, create illusions and throw spheres of energy.

Since joining the Avengers, they had helped in developing and training her on how to gain a greater degree of aptitude over her ability.

And she can confidently say she's gotten pretty good at it.

But still…

It was as if she were missing something. A core component of her powers that she didn't understand.

Perhaps here, with these witches, Wanda can finally begin to get a grasp on the powers she has.

Until then, all she could do was train and understand.

Maybe she can pick up on a few pointers by watching. They don't seem to mind her just observing them.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts that Wanda didn't realize that Merrin had been guiding her to someplace this whole time.

"Wait, Merrin." Wanda spoke up.

"Hmmm?"

"Where exactly are we going?"

"To my special place." She said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Your special place?"

Merrin nodded her head. "Yeah, no one knows about it other than me."

Wanda smirked slightly at her excitement. "If you say so."

She continued following after the young Nightsister Initiate until her ears picked up on the pitter patter of another set of footsteps.

From around a fallen tree trunk ran out another young girl around the same age as Merrin.

One Wanda had occasionally seen with Merrin.

"Merrin!"

"Ilyana!"

Both girls ran towards each other and embraced each other in a giggling hug.

It warmed Wanda's heart of seeing a good measure of light on this eerie world.

Ilyana pulled away and her expression brightened upon seeing Maximoff.

"Hey Wanda." She said with a wide smile.

"Hello Ilyana, how are you today?"

"I finally got away from my chores." The young girl blurted out eliciting a laugh out of both Wanda and Merrin. "But I didn't know you were going to come here today, Wanda."

"She was put in my care today." Merrin said with a proud puff of her chest.

"Lucky~"

Wanda smirked slightly and flipped the hood Merrin was wearing over her eyes.

"HEY!" Merrin threw the hood back with a pout.

"How that ever happened, I would never know." Said the Sokovian.

It was perhaps a test to see if she would harm the innocent of the clan. The opportunity can be quite tempting by many of running off and going elsewhere. But where could Wanda go?

She slowly knew much of the dangers of this planet. The rancor, the enemy clans and covens, other forms of wildlife. Her powers could help fend them off, but for how long before she is hunted down for her actions and overwhelmed by opposing forces.

For now Wanda had to suffice with her present company.

"Where exactly are we going?" Wanda found herself asking, noting that she was fairly confident they had gotten a large measure of distance from the village of the Nightsisters.

"You'll see."

The trio were walking up a small hill and upon reaching the top, Wanda and Ilyana were brought to Merrin's special place.

Wanda blinked slightly when she saw what it was. Apparently it was a crash site where some transport was a piled heap of scrap metal.

Judging on its present state, it was months old; perhaps longer.

At what one of the "wings" of the ship was a small fort of some kind made up of rocks, sticks, cloth and metal that may have been taken from within the ship.

"What is this?" Wanda asked, walking behind the two girls going towards the crashed ship.

Merrin shrugged, looking back to the Avenger.

"Me and Ilyana just found it here a while back." The young child stated. "We thought about telling Mother Talzin."

"But having this for ourselves is more fun!" Ilyana proclaimed.

Coming up to it, the Sokovian started to inspect it as Merrin and Ilyana started to play around it as some makeshift fort.

For some part of her, Wanda wondered if she could perhaps use any surviving technology to help reach out to the outside world.

Not that she minded her hosts, but Wanda sought to find her comrades after being away from them for so long.

Then again, the way Mother Talzin acted made it seem like she wasn't quite ready in letting Wanda go just yet.

Upon entering the damaged craft, she saw the state of it all.

It barely looked like it was being held together and an overall destroyed and incoherent mess.

It was large for the most part and looked like a cross between a transport and conveyor ship.

Storage lockers were haphazardly torn open with everything pilfered. Most, if not all, drawers and cabinets were empty as well. Basically everything of value and easily accessed were taken by the survivors.

It would've looked worse if it didn't seem cleaned up. Something which she rationalized Merrin and Ilyana were the cause of, so they wouldn't hurt themselves during their playtime.

Exploring the ship a bit more, Wanda was soon standing within what was the cockpit since she spotted a number of chairs and controls for steering by the looks of it.

Again, no corpses here. No bones, no nothing. Just dust and ruin.

She walked up to the controls and her hands hovered over them and hesitantly, she pressed down upon one of the buttons.

Nothing happened.

Maximoff proceeded to tentatively press several more all to be met with the same response.

Wanda scoffed and internally berated herself. It was moments like these that she wished she was as tech savvy as her brother and her other teammates.

She could not make heads or tails of how to operate any of this, let alone repair. She is still trying to understand the local, basic written language. Somehow Pietro got a grasp of it better than she did and it was he who got to fly the quinjet several times.

And she's the one who could actually make herself fly.

Maybe it was karma?

She perhaps regrets not taking up on Scott's offer on the lessons.

Perhaps she may use this wreckage as a place to get away from the Nightsisters and be by herself for some time.

The Avenger then turned to the pilot's seat and gingerly placed her hand atop it with a contemplative expression.

Wanda somewhat wondered what happened to the ship's previous occupants.

They may have survived and went elsewhere after the crash. She didn't see any signs of corpses, unless Merrin and Ilyana somehow dragged them out and gave them burials. Or it could've been the survivors who did the deed. She then thought about what happened afterwards. Were they found, taken prisoner and enslaved by other clans or something worse?

The sound of laughter from afar broke her out of her thoughts for a moment and her lips twitched upwards.

Least the two girls were having fun.

Her thoughts drifted back to that of the ship as she exited the cockpit and began walking towards the end of the ship.

Passing by a number of destroyed and ransacked storage areas, she found herself standing in a room full of strange rocky tombs and metallic casings.

These were certainly odd structures to be found here. They seemed so out of place when compared to the rest of the ship.

Untouched and undamaged other than natural degradation.

She heard of smugglers and pirates from Mother Talzin on what they often do for profit. Asides from spice trading and raiding respectively as examples, they often pilfered ancient ruins for anything of value and sell them to the highest bidder.

But still, it raised a lot of questions, primarily being what was this ship, it's purpose, the original owners and what was it that they carried here.

The many questions which roamed through her head were swiftly shoved away when she felt something odd.

She found herself frozen, as if unsure as to what was happening.

'What was that?' Maximoff thought to herself. 'That feeling?'

Wanda took a second to concentrate on this passing sensation.

It was a peculiar feeling for the Sokovian.

It was as if she was being called upon. Pulled in a certain direction and manner.

At first it seemed unfamiliar to her but she paused on that thought.

She had felt something like this once before.

Wanda was sure of it.

It only took a moment to remember where she had felt this sensation before.

The last time this happened was when she was first granted these powers of hers by the Mind Stone at the HYDRA base. It called out to her once presented to her.

It's power was so bright, warm and inviting. And within that power, that light, she saw something- no, someone within it, reached out and touched her.

This feeling she presently felt was similar, yet different. It was hard to really explain it. But she felt not one source but two; yet they were at the very same spot.

While one was somewhat warm, the other was quite cold.

Looking around the storage area, Wanda spotted where this feeling was coming from.

The source(s) came from behind some dented scrap metal with other tombs blocking it.

Going over to it, Wanda inspected it on all sides and saw a red glow suddenly come from in between the cracks of the metal casing. A moment later, she saw a bluish-white come from the one right next to this one.

'Well… guess I have no choice now.' Wanda internally said to herself, her curiosity piqued now.

She tried prying it off by hand, but it seemed too wedged into the surrounding damage during the crash.

The other looked no better.

"Ok then." Wanda remarked, taking a step back, calling forth her red energy in between her palms. She used her powers to rip away the covers of the casings to reveal a pair of objects.

Both seemed rather similar in terms of design with them being pyramid shaped. Aside from that, there were etched markings along the metal pieces. That was where the similarities ended.

One was bone white with black markings on the surface with steel for the borders. The other was orange-red with black metal for the borders.

Wanda hummed in curiosity and wonder.

Why did she feel such things from these; let alone how?

There was some sort of energy to them, that was for sure as she gazed upon the way they were radiating.

Scratching her auburn locks, Wanda knew she'll be bringing these back with her but it'll be annoying to carry them on hand. Her clothing had pockets but the sharp edges of these small pyramids look as though they'd just tear through the fabric.

Maybe there was something in this ship that she could use as a means of carrying these things.

She took a moment to look around though to no avail.

Guess they'll have to be carried by hand.

Making her way out of Merrin's "special place", she soon came across the two children.

"You two still having fun?" Wanda asked, gaining both their attention.

"Uh huh~" The duo nodded.

Ilyana took notice of the objects in the Sokovian's hands.

"What did you find, Wanda?" The Girl asked, pointing at the two objects.

Wanda held them up for them to be seen more clearly and shrugged. "I have no idea what they are. Just that they were preserved or kept safe or something like that."

Merrin found herself squinting slightly at the two items.

"They… kinda look familiar." She said in an unsure manner.

An auburn brow rose in question. "You know what these are?"

Merrin walked up to Wanda to get a closer look at the pyramid designed objects. "Somewhat. I don't remember much from my lessons about these things but… I think they were called holocrons."

"Holocrons?"

"Devices which store lessons inside, or sometimes maps." Merrin clearly wasn't entirely certain.

"Lessons? You mean like knowledge?"

"It's hard to really explain. I didn't get that far into those lessons."

Maximoff gave the girl a sympathetic and understanding smile.

"Don't worry, it's hard for me to wrap my head around it all." Said Wanda.

"So what're you gonna do with them?" Ilyana asked, reaching out to grab one only for Wanda to keep it away from her in a mischievous manner.

"Hey!"

"Finders keeper rules apply." Wanda quipped.

"Boo~"

The Sokovian merely blew a raspberry in response, though the two girls retaliated in an instant. The two parties continued this until they devolved into laughter.

"But what are you gonna do with them?" Ilyana asked once more.

Wanda hummed in thought, holding up both to inspect them.

"For now, they may just be decorations in my room. I could use better night lights." She then smirked a little as she used her powers to make them float. "Or I can just play around with them to sate some boredom."

Her action in levitating the two items seemed to have caused a reaction out of the holocrons.

The objects started to pulse within the scarlet red energy with a certain glow about them. A moment later, Wanda's power was suddenly sucked into and absorbed by the two and they fell to the ground.

This caused the girls to jolt back in surprise and shock.

"What did you do?" Merrin asked with a hint of fear.

"I don't know. Why are you blaming me for this?"

"Because you were making them float." Ilyana pointed out.

The girls watched as the two Holocrons rattled about until the four sided prisms opened up and let out the scarlet energy that they had absorbed.

A swirl of power emanated from the pyramid objects.

Sensing a foreboding feeling, Wanda quickly pulled the children behind her in case she may have done something unintentionally dangerous.

Both girls felt a hint of fear now since Wanda reacted so defensively and peeked out from behind the Avenger as all three girls stared at the open Holocrons.

After several moments, nothing particularly harmful or threatening happened. Just wisps of energy coming out from the objects on the ground once they seemingly opened… somehow in some manner.

Merrin tilted her head further out to get a better look but Wanda's protective instincts lightly pushed her back behind her for safety.

She wasn't sure just yet whether or not what she had done was dangerous so she was not taking any chances with two kids here.

The area was now silent other than the sound of wildlife in the distance and the hum of power coming from the holocrons.

A split second later, the three saw some… things hovering above the floating holocrons.

Two outlines, formless and unidentifiable appeared until they started to take shape. Several moments go by until they see two translucent, ethereal blue women.

Looking past this detail, they were human in appearance.

The first looked like a Dathomirian woman with her stark white/grey skin, long ragged black hair and grey eyes. There were black markings across her face and there was a sense of controlled madness within her eyes as she hovered over the bone white object.

The other who hovered over the orange-red object wore a large robe which covered all of her features, except the lower half of her face. Her white hair did come out as low pigtails as they were kept together by strips of black cloth. And she seemed deathly pale on her skin tone.

"At long last you have finally found my holocron." Spoke the ethereal Dathomirian woman look-a-like.

The voice was serene and calm yet there was a clear sinister undertone that she carried.

Wanda didn't know what she was looking at but she wasn't quite sure she was to trust it. Just as much as she trusts Mother Talzin, which is at an arm's length.

"I have waited for someone like you…"

Wanda finally voiced some bit of confusion as to what this Dathomirian look-a-like was referring to.

"You… were waiting for someone like me?"

"Someone who has known anger, hate... and despair." Clarified the ethereal being.

Well that wasn't ominous at all.

"Excuse me? Who are you?" Wanda hesitantly inquired.

"I am XoXaan." The Dathomir look alike proclaimed with unrepentant pride. "I am among the first of the dark lords of the Sith. One of those who abandoned the Jedi to seek the darker path to the truth. For my brethren and I invented what it means to be Sith."

'Sith.' Wanda recalled what Talzin told her of them.

How they were the opposite of the Jedi.

Though she spoke of them in a more negative light, the Jedi appeared to be the more positive of the two though who knows for sure.

The words of one differ from experiencing firsthand.

Wanda slowly nodded before looking towards the ethereal, hooded woman who hadn't said a word quite yet since her appearance.

"And who are you?"

XoXaan then turned to the other being with a curious look and voiced a question. "Yes, who are you?"

"I am merely one of your distant inheritors, old founder." Spoke the hooded woman before addressing the others. "You may refer to me as Darth Kreia."

"...You two don't seem like simple lesson recordings." Wanda noted. "Are you both AI?"

"AI?" Voiced the ethereal beings in sync.

"Artificial Intelligence. An advanced robotic program."

"You dare refer to me as a droid?" Hissed XoXaan. "The audacity of this-"

"Calm yourself, dark founder." Kreia said evenly. "It is clear that she doesn't know the advanced nature of our holocrons."

"I just found out about you two literally just now." Wanda admitted.

"Did you now?" XoXaan said, tone conveying clear surprise. "Then how is it that you managed to activate our Holocrons? I doubt you have a connection to the Force."

"You are right, I don't…" Kreia blinked and stared intently at the Avenger and felt something off about her. "Who… who are you? What are you? I have never felt anything like you before in my entire existence."

The spirit of XoXaan looked at her fellow Force spirit in confusion and reached out to the scarlet Avenger only to find the same results.

"You are… a strange… wound… no… A void." Muttered the dark founder of the Sith in terms of describing Wanda. "A void in the Force… I… have never felt anything like you before."

Kreia's eyes narrowed now. "How did you activate our Holocrons?"

Wanda was hesitant on answering, until-

"She used her magical powers." Said Merrin.

Maximoff looked down at the girl with a slightly annoyed expression.

Merrin realized her slip up and gave her an apologetic look.

"Is that so, little one?" Kreia spoke in a softer tone towards the girl before finally taking notice of their surroundings. "Hmmm, ah, I see now. Dathomir. The Dark Side of the Force has always been strong here."

"What is this power the young one spoke of?" XoXaan rudely asked.

"None of your business." Was Wanda's instinctual retort.

XoXaan found herself sneering at the Avenger. "You dare-"

"Okay, gonna shut you up now."

Using her powers, she concentrated hard on the bone white holocron.

The Sith ladies' surprise was evident as the scarlet energy surrounded her and a moment later, the prism sucked XoXaan in and shut itself tightly.

Kreia gazed upon this with open wonder and intrigue. "...Well… That is rather interesting. So that was how you freed us."

Maximoff was strangely not as annoyed with Kreia's deduction of her then XoXaan's outburst.

Clearing her throat, she faced the Darth and spoke a bit more politely now.

"So about your earlier comment. How is it your… holocrons differ?"

"It's because our spirits reside within our devices."

"...Oh well that's fantastic. I'm speaking to literal ghosts."

Who was she going to call to deal with these now?

Well with what she basically did moments ago, she basically became a Ghostbuster.

So she might have to rely on herself on this kind of situation.

"You have me at a disadvantage. We gave you our names, but not of yours or your little companions." Spoke Darth Kreia.

Wanda looked to the two Dathomirian children clutching to her legs.

"I'm Wanda Maximoff. And these two are Merrin and Ilyana."

"Greetings." Kreia said formally. "A true pleasure to meet unique individuals like yourselves. Though if I may, perhaps this may not be the best place to talk. Is there a place where we can speak in a more comfortable setting?"

-Scene Cut-

Back at her present residency, Wanda sat on the chair as she had Kreia's holocron reactivated to release the hooded Sith spirit.

Next to her were an excited Merrin and Ilyana who had been sworn to not tell anyone what they had found and to keep it between them. Especially Mother Talzin.

It wasn't hard considering she used the advent of the Holocrons coming from their special secret place therefore, the two force items are extents of the secrets.

The reasoning made sense to their child like logic and went along with it.

Though given how sensitive Mother Talzin is with the Force, the clan leader may learn of the holocrons in due time. She may already know of them and is just choosing not to say anything about it.

The thought didn't exactly place comfort in Wanda's heart.

Regardless, one Holocron was already active and the other was lying on the floor, closed and unmoving.

"It is better that you bring her out." Kreia suggested. "Volatile and prideful she may be, this woman is the first of the Sith Lords. The knowledge she possesses is invaluable."

With some reluctance and persuasion, Wanda opened up XoXaan's holocron to release the faux-Dathomirian Sith. Said woman hotly glared at the Sokovian and wanted to use Sith Lightning to fry her alive.

"You will not do that again!"

"Oh I most certainly can." Wanda said threatened, her hand glowing with scarlet energy. "You say or do anything that annoys me or threatens them *briefly glances at the two girl*, you'll never get out of your little prison ever again."

A hiss-like growl was all the response Wanda got before Darth Kreia spoke up.

"Now then, let's begin from the start." The elderly looking woman said. "We know of one another's names but not of each other's situations. Tell me Wanda Maximoff, how was it that you came across our Holocrons? Last we were activated, we were within our tombs on Korriban."

"I don't know of this Korri-place you speak of but I found you in a crashed ship." Wanda responded. "Both of you were in some kind of metal casing or holding of some kind. Maybe you were being transported or something."

"So you found us by accident?" XoXaan inquired in annoyed disbelief.

Wanda shrugged her shoulders. "Basically, yeah."

Kreia crossed her arms in deep contemplation. "Smugglers are the most likely option on how we're not on Korriban. That planet was always a target for those who seek artifacts of riches. I still recall noticing a number of Sith suddenly departing from the world over the years"

"Maybe." Wanda said. "I don't really know. I'm new to all this."

"New to all, what?" Kreia inquired.

"Everything!" Wanda exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. "In just about a few weeks, I've been on this galaxy, let alone planet."

"So you have no intention of utilizing the knowledge that we possess for your own gain?" XoXaan asked, as if believing it to be a trick of some kind.

"Why would I want any of that?" Wanda retorted in confusion. "I didn't even know about you guys a few days ago. I've only been here for a few weeks in this galaxy."

"Truly?" Kreia spoke with a clear sense of growing interest. "Fascinating… you are truly fascinating."

Wanda was a bit put off by the comment but it didn't make her entirely uncomfortable. Just the way Kreia spoke was strange. There was almost a strange reverence in the way she addressed her.

XoXaan then recalled something Wanda spoke a moment ago.

"What do you mean by being here for a few weeks in this galaxy?"

"It's complicated."

Kreia gestured for her to explain. "Enlighten us."

Wanda was unsure about this but when she saw the expectant expressions of Ilyana and Merrin, she caved in.

For the next long while, a similar conversation with how Wanda conversed with Mother Talzin took place. But instead of a straight up exchange of information over a span of several days, it was basically condensed to a degree.

Her life on Earth, how she obtained her powers… through a magic rock (in which she wasn't going to reveal was the Mind Stone quite yet) and her becoming an Avenger. A number of missions were spoken of her heroic feats alongside her brother and their companions all up to that dreadful day at the HYDRA base with their "stargate".

Suffice to say Wanda's story was entertaining for the two children present.

"You're a superhero Wanda?" Merrin asked in awe, looking up at her newest friend in adoration now.

"Feh~!" XoXaan spat in disgust. "What a waste of time."

"Yes." Wanda drawled, hands alight with her power. "Preventing the extinction of all life is a waste of time as you say. Do you need another timeout?"

XoXaan glared heatedly at the Avenger with Maximoff not back down from her gaze.

"As entertaining that may be to see once again, Wanda, I'd rather not prolong my request of having XoXaan being here." Kreia said in a patient manner.

"And why is that, Lady Kreia?" Ilyana asked quietly.

Kreia smiled slightly at the young Nightsister before facing Wanda.

"Tell me, Ms. Maximoff, what do you know of the Sith Order?" Asked Kreia.

Since finding the two holocrons, Wanda had taken the time to learn what she was able to from the Nightsisters about the Sith and the Jedi, even if it's a crash course.

"It's more of a religion which clashes with the Jedi due to a disagreement of philosophies over the past millennia."

"Which is true, but it's far more than that. In a sense, it pertains to our Will."

Wanda blinked upon hearing XoXaan's response.

"Your Will?"

Kreia gave an explanation. "Every member of the dark side sees it differently based on their experience in life. Each Sith has their own belief in the core philosophy, like one's view on passion for example. The same goes for masters of the Sith."

XoXaan nodded in agreement with one of her distant inheritors. "We have our own view on how a Sith should be. Such as myself who thinks of it as a way to break free from the lie of peace. Like the last line of our code says: the Force shall set me free."

"Shall set you free? What does that even mean?" Wanda asked in confusion.

"To understand the Sith doctrine, let us first instruct you of the Jedi Doctrine as well." Kreia stated. "These are the tenants that make up the code that governs our counterparts. There is no Emotion, there is Peace. There is no Ignorance, There is Knowledge. There is no Passion, There is Serenity. There is no Chaos, There is Harmony. There is no Death, There is the Force."

"That didn't make any sense to me." Wanda truthfully stated.

"What do you make of it?" Kreia asked.

"Of what?"

"The Code."

"Um…" Wanda rubbed the back of her head in thought. "I'm not sure what it is."

XoXaan sighed before quoting the code she and her fellow founders created all those millennia ago. "The Sith Code is as follows: Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me."

"Again, I'm not entirely sure what you guys are talking about." Wanda said. "This all sounds very spiritual and philosophical."

Kreia hummed at that comment. "You are right to a degree. Most of what we spout to those who are uninformed comes across as drabble and needless preaching. Often why both sides of the Force have clashed due to ideology."

"There have been wars fought over more and less than that." Wanda found herself blurting out.

"There have, but they are often viewed as insignificant over the greater conflict."

"Now what does this have to do with your Will as stated earlier?"

"Our Will is our own self-imposed doctrines and interpretations of the Force. To be mastered for ourselves until it is time for others to take up its cause. Essentially, it's one of the reasons why we take on apprentices, to pass on our view and thinking, practically our Will." Spoke the hooded Sith ghost. "Having an apprentice is a helpful method to help the masters reach their dream, and it also guarantees that the Sith Order will survive in the future. But as you can see, both of us are ghosts. So that may not be entirely the case."

"Basically you're grasping at straws right now." Guessed Wanda.

"You are not wrong on the matter." Kreia said simply.

"There is only one goal left for us: ensuring the Sith Order survives." XoXaan said in a grandiose fashion. "Not only that it survives but survives in our respective vision and that our Will shall pass onto the new generation. So that the particular view of the Sith will be triumphant."

"There is also a dependency on if the backstabbing, self-destructive nature of the Sith finally ends." Kreia added in. "Though given my last few apprentices, I highly doubt the trend faded and ended."

At the beginning, Wanda can understand the concept of legacy. It is what one desires to live on after they die. To carry on the family name, a thought and idea, etc. It helps show one's duty on the memory of their predecessor that they did right in being their inheritor.

Wanda may not exactly understand it now, but she may if she takes a student of her own. Or beyond that, having a family. Only through them will her memory live on beyond death.

She thought of Tony Stark with how he was basically changing the Stark legacy. Originally with his father -Howard- starting Stark Industries, it was a weapon's manufacturer. Tony carried it on once becoming CEO, but after his run in with the Ten Rings at Afghanistan, he decided to change the Stark Legacy into something far more than something which harmed innocent lives. For Tony became the Iron Avenger and is an iconic hero all of Earth knows.

At the present, a ray of hope would shine through the taint of that company's history. But who knows what may happen in later generations if it'll return to a weapon's manufacturer or remain as it is today.

The Sokovian then thought of what Kreia stated just now.

"What do you mean by backstabbing?"

"I'm being literal on this, Wanda Maximoff." Said the hooded Sith. "One way or another, many betray their masters in order to become stronger."

"Indeed. Often to dominate one's Will over the other, you must destroy the other in its entirety. Root out all that you do not want and make your own Will to manifest and live on. In doing so, you must kill all who are against you. Kill the masters, kill the apprentices, kill the agents, kill the slaves, kill even the children." XoXaan said. "To be a Sith is to be one who will want only more power. Power unto themselves and no one other."

Wanda balked at such a lifestyle. She found herself wrapping her arms around Merrin and Ilyana as they grew frightened at the mention of children being killed.

They were kids after all. They grasped on to Wanda tightly for comfort and felt a manner of their fear go away at the woman holding them tightly to her.

"Th-That's horrible!" Maximoff said aloud. "What kind of sick Order is this?!"

"The Sith Order." Kreia said sadly. "It's an act many Sith use for their selfish desire. But not all used such a method and desired to break this self-destructive tradition. I was one of them."

XoXaan scoffed. "I find that unlikely. It's natural for all beings to have selfish desires."

"Believe me what you will, dark founder. Like my first apprentice -Revan- I still retained traits of the light side of the Force; despite my beliefs in our power. Thus it made me view the dark side differently for my Will to be inherited. For I looked onto the codes of both sides to grasp the bigger picture."

Wanda viewed Kreia a bit more favorably when hearing this while despising XoXaan a bit more.

"Like my first apprentice, I became a Dark Lord out of necessity." Said Kreia.

Wanda blinked in surprise. "You… you chose to become a Sith Lord?"

Kreia nodded. "Yes, it is as I said, a necessity."

"Necessity for what?"

"Others have their own reasons for converting from the Jedi Order to becoming a Sith Lord. For me, it was preventing a greater evil; one which would've condemned the galaxy to death with their power unchecked."

"... Who?" Wanda asked quietly.

Kreia shook her head. "I… do not know. Only Revan and a select few of his most closest companions, perhaps, knew of the greater evil that was to befall the galaxy. When I learned of this, I began questioning everything that I had once known. I saw missing links within the Jedi Code and broke away from it to learn from the Sith. I willingly gave myself over to the Dark Side, to "forbidden knowledge" to see what I was unable to see from the Jedi's point of view. But… in doing so, I ended up creating a few great evils on my own. All because of a certain concept with Force sensitives and wielders."

Wanda had too many questions right now but only one came to mind being that involving the "Great Evils" Kreia spoke of.

"Being what?"

"The relationship between master and apprentice is often about trust and the power between them." Kreia explained further. "While I succeeded in the means of trust with some of my apprentices, I gloriously learned the downfall of it through two in particular, Darth Nihilus and Darth Sion; the great evils I unknowingly and blindly created."

"How did that happen?"

"I formed a Triumvirate with them in hopes of strengthening our hold of the Sith Order and defeating our foes. We were united through our hatred towards the Jedi, but we diverged when my apprentices' ideals differed from my own. My Will was not law. There were disagreements, ambition… and hunger for power. Through that, I was betrayed by their union and was cast down, stripped of my power for some time, was exiled as I suffered indignities and fell to darkness. It made me realize an alliance through hatred is a fragile partnership at best. One that can be broken in a moment's notice."

Hearing this made Wanda recall the alliance she and Pietro had with Ultron.

All three of them hated Stark with what he did to them respectively.

The Avengers were an add on due to their association with Stark as well as their infringement upon Sokovia.

Didn't help that their time with HYDRA only strengthened their deep seated loathing towards Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

The three of them were winning for a time.

They were getting what Ultron said they needed and had even at one point had the media and public against the Avengers after what happened near Wakanda with the Hulk.

Then everything then came crumbling down when Wanda and Pietro learned the truth of Ultron.

Wanda finally felt the thoughts of Ultron due to the body he sought to transfer into. His endgame plan of wiping out all life on Earth and he was merely using the Maximoff twins as tools, only to be discarded once no longer useful.

Thus the alliance swiftly ended with the twins allying themselves with the Avengers… after a tussle at their tower in New York.

An alliance built on hatred.

Ended as swiftly as it began.

"I understand that, Kreia, I really do."

"I most certainly hope you do after what I learned of your past."

"Oh how I wonder how the Sith Order is like today after hearing all that." XoXaan drawled out. "Though I figure it's more of a shadow of its former self, given a number of ghosts roaming Korriban."

Wanda only shrugged. "The Nightsister clan leader here told me that both Jedi and Sith are still active for the most part. And that there is this whole thing of there being two Sith lords at this time, due to something called-"

"The Rule of Two." Said Kreia. "Yes, I recall hearing Bane all so gloriously speaking of this on occasion as it revolutionized the Order."

"Rule of Two?" XoXaan repeated in bewilderment.

"The one who was the last to have opened my holocron was a Sith by the name of Bane." Kreia explained. "He had come seeking the ancient knowledge of the Sith, having studied extensively under my student Revan's holocron. He then came to me for further clarity and knowledge as I was his teacher at one point and he wished to learn from me as well."

The hooded Sith let this sink in with the others before she continued.

"Thus he came to the new Sith theology of the Rule of Two. Only one Master and one Apprentice may hold the title as Darth at a time. Everyone else is an acolyte ready to take on the Apprentice's place at a moment's notice should said person have fallen or if the Apprentice became the Master."

"And why would he do that?" Asked Merrin.

"Because the Dark Side was spread out and too thinly with so many Sith being present. With so very few, the power grows exponentially." Kreia revealed. "And in many ways, he was right. During my era in the time after so many wars, so many conflicts, it was not just the Jedi that dwindled to a near unsustainable number but a large number of Sith had died off as well. But in that brief instance, the level of power those with the Force possessed were immeasurable. With so few conduits, the Force became like a Supernova for any and all who practiced and used it. Such as my final student, an Exile of the Jedi Order and my prior two disciples in Nihilus and Sion."

"Now this I didn't know." XoXaan remarked. "What could have happened to the galaxy to the near decimation of Jedi and Sith."

"War is always a natural response and justifiable answer but it was more than just that. It was the culmination of thousands of years of hatred between two sides of the same coin. Ideologies change and blind the practitioners from knowing the truth. That there is no truth to the Force."

That was certainly confusing for those present.

"Mind elaborating on that?" Asked the Sokovian.

"It is not the destination that matters, it is the journey. All paths will take us to the end, whatever it may be, and no matter how strongly we fight against it." Kreia said.

Hearing such a thing again in her life was a tad inspiring for the Sokovian, but with how Kreia said it made her believe it was a bitter truth.

And the way her tone inflicted on the matters of the journey's end and the Force…

"You wish to have others break away from its set path." Wanda said in a small sense of realization.

"I do, Wanda. And being in your presence, I sense you may be one of them to greatly reshape the galaxy. Becoming a master of your own destiny, instead of being a slave."

"And how can that happen if you so believe. And what do you mean by me being one of them?"

"In a way, it's that the Force guides life on a set path, defining the future by its own Will to achieve some measure of constant balance, regardless of what it takes, death or life, darkness or light, to achieve it. But Wounds in the Force can disrupt it's Will. Places or people empty of the Force are unpredictable and unstable to Force sensitives. And you, Wanda, I believe is a Wound; a unique one at that given your powers."

"But she doesn't have the Force." XoXaan argued. "I sense something within her but it is not the Force. At least… not entirely."

"She doesn't. From what I sense, she wields something more… chaotic." Kreia stated. "Something far more liberating. Unchained and unbound to the Will of the Force."

It was rather creepy seeing Kreia describing her in such a fashion. Rather unsettling, actually.

"Do you… do you know this power?" Wanda asked, freeing one of her hands to create a tiny scarlet sphere that floated around and in between her fingers.

"I can only give you my theory. Something I researched in passing yet latched onto me as I sought to find more Wounds in the Force. The information is rather old, perhaps just as old as the first Force wielders, or even further than that." Kreia admitted. "All I have ever found was this sole text, a single page of lines that spoke of a being of unimaginable power. It spoke of a Nexus being."

"A Nexus what?" Merrin and Ilyana said in unison.

"A being heavily connected to all things." Kreia elaborated. "There are rare individuals with the ability to affect probability and thus the future, thereby altering the flow of everything. They are essentially keystones to reality and are crucial to its ultimate coherence and stability. And from the tome I came across, it predicted there would be a dozen of these beings in existence. One of which is a person highly revered and feared by any practitioners of the Force and magics."

"And who is it you speak of?"

Darth Kreia thus quoted the passage she found all so long ago on her search to break away from the Force.

"The Scarlet Witch isn't born but forged. She needs no coven nor incantation. Her power shall exceed the Force itself for her capabilities will greatly unsettle the Balance of all things." Kreia sounded more fanatical this time. "Free and boundless to the Force, the cosmos, free to pursue and forge the destiny in which she sees fit. The unchained power that the Force could never contain."

Silence filled Wanda's room as the others were digesting this recent bit of information. Something which may have well been one of the great secrets to the universe.

"You… believe I'm this person?" Wanda said to Kreia.

"Perhaps. But we shall see if my theory is true."

"Tell me something, Kreia." XoXaan held an accusatory tone as she glared upon her spiritual descendant. "You appear to hold great knowledge, a great understanding of the Force but I have noticed a level of disdain that you address it by. Are you not a Sith Lord? Do you not use the Force to your own means?"

Kreia proceeded to let out a derisive scoff at the dark founder of the Sith.

"I wield the Force, but it uses us all, and that is abhorrent to me. Because I hate the Force." She spat out. "I hate that it seems to have a Will overriding my own, that it would control us to achieve some measure of balance when countless lives are lost."

"If you sought others to break away from the Force, including yourself, why do you use it?" Wanda asked, clearly confused by it all. "Why draw from the power you grew to hate so much?"

"I use it as I would use a poison, and in the hopes of understanding it. In my lifetime or in the trust of a student, I would have learned the means in which to kill it." Kreia then sagged, her ethereal form reflecting her elderly visage. "But perhaps these are the excuses of an old woman who has grown to rely on a thing she despises."

"Hah! There is no way to kill the Force!" Exclaimed XoXaan. "I see much has changed in my time when I ruled with my Sith. It appears the Sith have fallen sway to idealism over the pursuit of power."

"Everyone is nostalgic at one point in their lives, even in death apparently." Wanda snarked.

In truth, the Sokovian Avenger often falls back to nostalgia of times long passed. Her extensive collection of old American TV shows in her room and computers back on Earth is evident of that. Even on her phone she watches on some nights.

"You say they have fallen and perhaps you are right." Kreia freely admitted. "But the Sith of your order fared no better and your own co-founding leader expressed nothing but remorse for the actions he had wrought."

XoXaan's features became sharp and near murderous. "What are you talking about, you hag?"

Kreia showed a sly smirk as though she were about to enjoy the verbal thrashing she was to give.

"Before his disappearance, I had met and spoke with my old pupil and he spoke of what he had learned during his time as a Jedi and a Sith." Kreia said, a fond tone coming over her at the mention of Revan. "In his travels, he had to make a stop by Korriban in an effort to locate something that would have benefited in his journey. While there, Revan went to the valley of the Dark Lords and entered the tomb of Ajunta Pall, the First Dark Lord of the Sith."

"Of which you should hold undying loyalty and gratitude towards." XoXaan fiercely declared. "He was the one who led us to forming the order that you would eventually find your place in."

"Ah~ but did you not know of what happened to him after his death?" Kreia taunted. "My~ You have been lacking in communicating with your fellow co-founders, practitioners and inheritors after leaving your mortal coils."

"What the hell are you talking about?" XoXaan all but snarled.

"Apparently he grew resentful of what he had done. Revan told me of how Ajunta Pall's spirit spoke of nothing but remorse and regret, self-loathing for turning against those he once called brothers and sisters in the Force. When he met Revan and his companions, they spoke of what he had truly accomplished and how once more the galaxy was divided against Jedi and Sith again. He bemoaned and decried the teachings of old, how the Sith had learned nothing and once more initiated a cycle of needless violence and death. They spoke to him and when asked if he would go back and change things, he said he would. Thus he faded away and became one with the Force instead of being a ghost haunting his tomb. Not of the Sith, but as a Jedi."

A maddening twitch of the eye was all they saw of XoXaan as anger started to bubble to the surface. A choking sound emanated from her mouth as she tried to speak of something.

"Is she having a seizure?" Merrin said innocently.

"I believe she's literally foaming at the mouth." Ilyana added in.

Wanda smirked at the comment. "I believe she is."

Maximoff then turned to Kreia. "You seemed rather disapproving of this."

"Of what?"

"This Pall Sith dying as a Jedi."

"He was long since dead when my disciple Revan found him. What I refer to was his spirit that had been trapped to wander his tomb endlessly."

"And you disapprove of him passing on as a Jedi?"

What Kreia said next only added to the fire which was XoXaan's anger.

"One who has fallen so far and done so much evil does not deserve redemption. In a way, such a turning from one's nature is cowardly, a betrayal of the self. But in this case," a sinister smile graced the hooded Sith's face, "it is rather entertaining to witness the reaction."

"You FUCKING BI-ZIP."

Merrin and Ilyana blinked upon seeing XoXaan disappear back into her holocron and looked up at an annoyed Wanda.

"Dang it." The Avenger berated herself. "Wasn't fast enough."

She gazed at the two girls with a sheepish look. "Sorry girls, wasn't fast enough to prevent you from hearing that. I know Steve is gonna give me an earful when I see him again."

"Huh?" Was their response, only being confused even further as Wanda laughed to herself.

The brown haired hero then turned back to an amused Kreia.

"Next time she sees you, she'll only grow in a greater degree of anger." The Sith lady plainly stated.

Wanda shrugged. "It's nothing I can't handle. Comes with the territory of being an Avenger."

"Hmmmm."

Wanda blinked at the intense gaze directed at her from Kreia. Which was kinda odd since the Sith was blind.

"What?"

"With all that out of the way, I would like to give you an offer."

"Being what?"

"I would like to teach you." Kreia bluntly stated.

"Teach me?" Wanda said in bewilderment. "How can you teach me? I don't have the Force as you said."

"One does not need to have the Force to understand the lessons that it can bring and apply in your own life. You may not carry and wield the Force, but you have the capacity in doing far more than it's confines." Kreia countered. "Besides, what else am I going to do within my holocron? I can't exactly leave it and go elsewhere."

"...Fair point." All joking aside, Wanda bore her eyes into the Sith spirit. "You still believe I'm this Nexus being, this Scarlet Witch to be exact."

"Who is to say?" Kreia said. "Perhaps I misinterpreted the prophecy. Perhaps the prophecy is wrong, a farce, but what matters is the teachings I can impart to you and if you are willing, to your two young friends you have beside you."

"Ilyana and Merrin?" Wanda said defensively, instinctively wrapping her arms around them.

"Us?" Merrin squeaked out.

"It's small, but it's there. Both of you, like all living things in the galaxy, have a connection to the Force. Yet you two have the capability to be practitioners and wielders." Kreia said. "And not in the simple, limited way of the Jedi and the Sith. With Wanda and I, we can teach you both to exceed your limits and forge your own destinies. Perhaps you lot can succeed where I have failed. You will be unbound and unchained to the Will of The Force and experience true freedom."

Wanda was silent for a few moments, thinking over the offer.

Earlier this week, before she stumbled across these holocrons, she thought of her powers and how she was still learning about them.

She admitted to herself that she wished to understand what it is she has and control it properly at its full capacity.

Maybe here, on Dathomir, she can do just that.

With the Nightsisters clans and XoXaan and Kreia… mostly Kreia, Wanda can fully master her powers.

"What do I have to lose?"

"Perhaps your sanity."

A brief flash of her life in the past few months went through her sight and she let out a foppish sigh.

"...I think I can manage… In time…"

AN

Yeah, this Anthology arc is a literal breeze.

It feels good when an arc is so clear in mind that it just writes itself.

Jebest4781: Just so y'all know, this ain't a simple one shot. This is merely part one of a mini-arc. This was heavily exposition diarrhea in a sense, but one that's needed to help expand things greatly for later story events with lore and content; somewhat like the Vision chapter.

FMW: Yeah, ya see to give some context of sorts in regards to the makings of this arc, Jeb and I always knew that out of the Avengers as a whole, Wanda would have one of the longer solo based arcs. When we heard of Wandavision and began watching the show, the two of us agreed that we would wait for a time until after the show ends and whatever happens, we would take what we got from the show and apply it here.

Jeb: We will still adapt a lot with the present arc on Dathomir and try to make it all work as best as possible.

FMW: Several reviews spoke of how there are several elements that Marvel and Star Wars share that are a lot alike, the Celestials being one of them. To a degree, the magic of the Nightsisters is another branch of the Force that is also akin to Wanda's magic. Then there's the Kwa we brought up being on Earth and how Odin and The Ancient One were aware of the Star Wars galaxy as was Gamora since it was hinted at. The Force and Power Cosmic are a lot alike in how both had been described so that came as a natural fit. Essentially the whole purpose now is to further tie the Star Wars and MCU in further together due to taking the similarities there are and using that to further expand on their connections within this crossover universe.

Jeb: And with certain characters on their background more or less connects with each other series in a sense. Take for example Darth Kraya or Kreia, whatever you prefer. She has beef against the Force with her philosophy and in a way connects with the MCU presently happening with Kang on him wanting certain things to happen on a designed "script" with his TVA; something which Revan's former master is heavily against after coming to her self-realization and goal of breaking away from the Force in her own way.

FMW: Really, with everything that has been coming out as of late with the MCU and what has come before on top of the endless lore of Star Wars Legends, this story's depth is only gonna grow in terms of what can be connected to one another. Which is probably why me and Jeb are breezing through this current arc.

So yeah, this has been an absolute blast to write and hope you guys are ready for more Wanda.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.